Chapter 6

The Doctor moved closer to the group from earlier. The alchemist had used some spare material to put a barrier between the ocean and the glass wall, letting them investigate without water flooding in. The Doctor wasn't trying to sneak up on them, but with the glorious powers of observation humans had, they hadn't noticed her yet.

She frowned. Now that sarcastic opinion sounded a bit too much like Pride or Porter. At least being around them served as an example of what not to do.

"Well sir, it seems Lilly was right," Ruth said. "Those markings were clearly made by teeth, from the outside. It's not sabotage or water pressure."

"I've studied ocean life for years," Ivan said. "And I know of nothing that matches teeth like that."

"We all know there are creatures in the ocean we don't know about," Simon pointed out. "Is it surprising one showed up?"

"Well that's all fine and good, but how do we defend against a creature we know nothing about?" Ivan asked.

"Learn more about it," the Doctor said, now right behind the group, between Ivan and Simon.

All three of them jumped out of their skin. Ruth bumped her head on the glass. Simon clapped his hands together before realizing who it was, and relaxing.

Ivan didn't relax. "What the hell are you doing here?" Ivan asked. "Lilly was supposed to be watching you."

"She was, but I'm nosy," the Doctor said.

Also, she wanted to check on the TARDIS. It was still there, where they'd left it, and seemed to be in perfect condition. These three hadn't touched it.

"You're also suspicious." Ivan crossed his arms. "You appeared out of nowhere. Has it occurred to you we could assume you have something to do with this?" He pointed at her.

The Doctor frowned, looking at him skeptically, and a little disappointed. Really, she'd done this so many times. "Your friend there just said those were formed by a creature from outside, in the depths of an ocean where you have the only town. I'd really like to hear how you think we pulled that off."

"She's right," Simon said. "Well, it's weird she's here, yes. But we should focus on capturing this creature."

"Capturing?" Ruth asked, eyes going wider and voice getting a little higher.

Simon frowned. "To study," he explained.

"Oh, yes," Ruth said, lowering her gaze. "Yes, I suppose so. . ."

Ivan cleared his throat. At least when he spoke again, he'd dialed back on the grumpiness a bit, sounding like he genuinely hoped for an answer. "Well this is all wonderful, but do you have any suggestions on how we capture a creature that big that has vanished with a trace?"

Simon folded his hands and looked at the ceiling. "I suppose, if we create someplace for the water to go, I can remove some from the area around the creature, so it can't swim and is stuck in place. But it has to come back first."

"We should talk to Lilly about this," the Doctor suggested. "She's the only one who sort of saw the creature. She might be able to help."

"I doubt it," Ivan said. "Ideas aren't really her thing, especially when you put her on the spot. But, we probably should check up on her and Pride. Lilly and a kid won't make for a group that's good about impulse control."

"Oh he's older than he looks," the Doctor said. "But you're right, still terrible impulse control."

She wondered if he had stayed put. She could tell he had some respect for her, but that hadn't stopped him from disobeying before, and they weren't exactly getting along now.

She frowned. Had she made a mistake? Not with the Stormcage device. That was a necessary precaution, but pushing him away so heavy-handedly. She didn't have to get along with him. He had many traits she disliked. Stubborn, always sure he was right, hypocritical, callous disregard for life, among other things. But if he decided she was an enemy, he could find ways around that device. And he was clearly already unhappy. Probably about losing the old body, and being the last homunculus as far as he was concerned. She knew a bit about being the last of a species, even if you weren't always fond of the other members.

She thought of all of this rather quickly, and when Ivan spoke again, there had barely been a pause. "Right. Let's get going."

They all headed down the hall, back towards the closet. It was about halfway back when Ruth raised a hand for them to stop, the other hand going to her lips.

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

The Doctor stopped, and listened. Ruth was right. She could hear Lilly's voice.

"It's coming from the vents," the Doctor said.

"Great, she's gone and gotten herself into trouble," Ivan said. "We better go get her."

"How? She could be anywhere in the base," Simon pointed out.

"She could be," Ivan agreed. "But I have a pretty good idea where she's gone. It's a room she's been obsessed with. Come on."

Ivan led them back the way they'd come, winding them further down the halls. The Doctor kept track of where they were going, and looked out the windows when there were some. It seemed they were reaching the end of the base.

It also seemed Ivan was right. As they were nearer to the end of the hall, the Doctor could see a door Lilly's voice was coming from. Pride would occasionally call out too, asking if anyone could hear them, though to say he was asking for help was stretching it.

"We're here!" Ivan shouted. "Now what's going on? I told you not to go investigating yourself. I would look into it when I had time."

"Pride thinks this box holds the same creature from outside!" Lilly shouted.

"What?" Ivan asked. He actually took a step back, looking shocked.

"Well, the same type of creature. Because something's probably alive in this box, and it makes sense that something related to it would be attacking outside. Did I get that right?"

"More or less," Pride said. "But right now, we're locked in this room while it fills with water, and I think that's a more pressing concern."

"Right, we can open the box when we get you two out," Ivan said with a nod. He yanked on the door, which unsurprisingly didn't work. "Simon, I'm going to need you to-Hey! Where'd he go?"

The three remaining people turned behind them, only to see an empty hall with no alchemist in sight.

"He's the one behind this, isn't he?" Pride asked.

"We don't know that for sure," Ivan said.

The Doctor could practically feel Pride's skepticism radiating through the door, in part because she agreed.

Ivan clenched his jaw, his body tensing up. "Fine! Doctor, Ruth, you look for Simon. I'm going to the main controls. I'll open this door that way. Just hang in there."

[I had great fun when most of Pride's traits the Doctor listed off are also ones the Doctor has, especially in this incarnation. Side note, in all of time and space I doubt Father and the sins are the only homunculi, but for most intents and purposes Pride is still the last.]